The Eve of the Exam

"Naruto Uzumaki..."

Kakashi repeated the name under his breath, a trace of regret flickering in his eyes.

He knew that name, and he knew who the boy was.

The Fourth Hokage's orphaned son. The Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki.

A faint sense of guilt quietly rose within him.

For all these years, Kakashi had wallowed in self-destruction and memories, and had never truly gone to visit his teacher's son.

Come to think of it, twelve years had already passed!

He wondered how Naruto had been doing all this time.

At the thought, Kakashi closed his book. His tone remained casual, but there was a hint of seriousness in it. "What can I do for you?"

"I was just wondering. Why would a powerful ninja like you be so relaxed, reading here? Shouldn't you be out on a mission?"

Naruto shook his head and asked in an easygoing tone.

"I usually have missions." Kakashi scratched his head and said helplessly, "But I'm taking a break for now because I'll be teaching the new class of Genin. Who knows... I might end up as your Jonin Instructor."

Naruto smiled faintly.

Of course he knew Kakashi would become his teacher.

He had already been through all of this countless times.

But for now, Naruto merely nodded and played along. "Really? I'm looking forward to it. If I get to be your student, I'm sure I'll improve a lot."

Kakashi was a little surprised by Naruto's cheerful expression.

He'd thought a Jinchuriki's childhood would be much darker and lonelier...

But the blond boy before him had clear eyes and an open smile. There wasn't a trace of gloom in him.

If anything, he seemed unusually mature.

That little detail put Kakashi somewhat at ease.

"Then let's look forward to tomorrow's graduation exam," Kakashi said.

"Yeah." There was a hint of meaning in Naruto's reply. "Tomorrow's important for another reason, too. I'll see you at the graduation briefing."

Kakashi nodded. "Yeah... see you."

Then they passed each other.

But Kakashi didn't go far. After taking a couple of steps, he stopped and turned to watch Naruto walk away. Pensive, he opened the copy of Icha Icha Paradise in his hand again.

But he couldn't read another word.

After saying goodbye to Kakashi, Naruto spotted another figure outside his apartment building.

Head bowed, the figure paced back and forth in the shadows beyond the streetlight, apparently locked in a fierce inner struggle.

It was Sasuke!

Only then did Naruto remember: in many previous loops, whenever he beat Sasuke in a spar, Sasuke would end up like this.

After school, once he'd eaten dinner, he would wrestle with himself and then come alone to Naruto's building. He would hesitate over whether to go up and ask Naruto about the secret behind his strength.

Most of the time, Sasuke would eventually choose to leave in silence, out of pride or for some other reason.

It wasn't until one loop, after Team 7 had formed and they'd truly opened up to each other, that Naruto happened to learn the truth.

Every time, as soon as Naruto got home, Sasuke would show up downstairs and pace around.

In one loop, Naruto had even deliberately hidden behind the window to spy on Sasuke agonizing over it. He'd found it very amusing.

This time, after talking with Kakashi and spending the walk home thinking about the Hyuga, Naruto had arrived at just the right moment. The two of them had run straight into each other.

Naruto's expression didn't change. He simply walked up and greeted him naturally. "Yo, Sasuke."

Sasuke jumped and quickly lifted his head. When he saw it was Naruto, he immediately tried to regain his composure, turned his face away, and gave a little snort. "You... what took you so long to get back? I didn't see you at the training ground."

Naruto smiled faintly, his tone lightly teasing. "I tattooed the previous Hokage this morning, then helped wash it off after school."

"Anyway, why are you wandering around near my place? Did you get lost? I thought your house was in the other direction."

Sasuke stiffened, his cheeks warming slightly. He replied stiffly, "You... mind your own business!"

"So you came looking for me? Need something?"

Naruto shrugged and got straight to the point.

The air fell quiet for a few seconds.

Sasuke pressed his lips together as if he'd made up his mind. Casting aside his useless pride and embarrassment, he lifted his head and looked Naruto in the eye. "That Taijutsu you used today... and the Shuriken. How did you learn to do all that? Can you tell me? I have to get stronger."

Naruto paused in surprise.

That was unexpected.

In past loops, even when Sasuke came to see him, he usually beat around the bush or questioned him in a forceful tone. He rarely expressed what he wanted so directly and honestly.

Maybe this time it was because they'd run into each other face-to-face, combined with the difference in Naruto's tone and attitude?

Naruto knew all too well how one subtle change could lead to small or major differences in what followed.

That was something he'd learned through his many loops.

Naruto looked into Sasuke's dark eyes, full of determination. After a moment's thought, he said, "I see... I don't mind telling you, but let's wait until after the graduation exam. It's late, so you should go home and get some sleep."

With that, Naruto turned and started up the stairs.

Watching Naruto walk away without hesitation, Sasuke panicked. Another question that had been bothering him all day slipped out. "Wait!"

"Did you really get stronger just because you suddenly started working hard? Or were you hiding your strength all along? I'm not sure I believe what you told me this afternoon..."

Naruto stopped and looked back.

His sapphire-blue eyes held a complicated expression.

Naruto silently studied Sasuke for a while before replying slowly, "Hiding my strength? What would I gain from that? I really did just 'get it' recently, but... I'll tell you why another time."

With that, Naruto went inside. His footsteps gradually faded up the stairwell.

Sasuke was left standing alone, the evening breeze ruffling the black hair over his forehead.

His confusion had only grown.

But one thing was now certain to him.

Something major had happened to Naruto Uzumaki, something Sasuke knew nothing about.

Sasuke looked up at the rooftop. That was where Naruto lived.

It seemed he could only wait...

Maybe he'd get an answer after the graduation exam.

The next day.

By the time Naruto entered the classroom, quite a few people were already there.

Out of habit, he quickly surveyed everyone in the room.

Every person, and every seat they occupied, matched the countless loops he remembered.

Of course, there could be some small differences.

Those depended on the different choices Naruto had made since starting the loop over.

Naruto paused briefly in the doorway, his gaze settling on Hinata Hyuga, who was sitting by the window.

She was looking down at the book on her desk, her pale eyes focused and quiet.

Thinking of their brief conversation the day before, and the tiny moments he'd overlooked in earlier loops, Naruto walked over to her.

"Good morning, Hinata."

Hearing the familiar voice, Hinata looked up. Her cheeks quickly flushed, and her fingers instinctively tightened around the pages of her book.

But compared to how flustered she'd been yesterday, she seemed a little calmer today.

"G-good morning, Naruto-kun."

Hinata answered softly, her voice quiet but clear.

Naruto smiled and said nothing more as he headed for his seat.

The others in the classroom had noticed the exchange, too.

Ino Yamanaka nudged Sakura with her elbow and lowered her voice. "See? I told you Naruto's been acting weird since yesterday."

Sakura didn't answer.

She watched Naruto walk to his seat, her brows drawing together slightly.

It was true. Naruto had changed.

He wasn't the Naruto who always came over to greet her loudly, trying to get her attention.

He hadn't even looked her way today.